Cloth finishing machine and hydraulic driving apparatus therefor



Nov. 25, 1952 T. A. DOURDEVILLE 2,618,954

CLOTH FINISHING MACHINE AND HYDRAULIC DRIVING APPARATUS THEREFOR.

Filed May 9, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l ZQM M l" INVENTOR.

THEODORE -A. DOURDEVILLE.

Nov. 25, 1952 DOURDEVlLLE 2,618,954

' CLOTH FINISHING MACHINE AND HYDRAULIC DRIVING APPARATUS THEREFOR Filed May 9, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E 5 E I THEODORE A. DOURDEVILLE.

Nov- 25, 19 T. A. DOURDEVILLE CLOTH FINISHING MACHINE AND HYDRAULIC DRIVING APPARATUS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 9 1951 a HAW ill; a

I I III" INVENTOR.

THEODORE A. DOURDEVILLE.

f at ranted Nov. 25, 1952 CLOTH FINISHING MACHINE AND HYDRAU- LIC DRIVING APPARATUS THEREFOR Theodore A. Dourdeville, Holden, Mass., assignor to David Gessner Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 9, 1951, Serial No. 225,422

v'7 Claims.

This invention relates to a cloth finishing machine in which a long piece of cloth, commonly wool or worsted, and an associated apron are Wound under pressure and tension on a large perforated metal drum, followed by several turns of the apron alone, and in which provision is made for steaming and thereafter air-cooling the cloth while in such tightly-wound condition on the drum. The roll and drum are then reversely rotated, and the apron is wound on a storage roll, while the finished cloth is separately delivered.

This invention relates particularly to improved hydraulic driving and control apparatus in which separate hydraulic driving motors are provided for rotating the perforated drum and the storage roll, and in which each motor when inactive acts as a hydraulic brake or drag on the associated idle roll or drum.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to regulate the hydraulic drag in proportion to changes in the diameter of the apron mass on the storage roll.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described and. more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective side elevation of a clothfinishing machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the hydraulic driving motors and other associated hydraulic devices;

Fig. 3 is a sectional front elevation of a hydraulically controlled friction brake for the perforated winding drum;

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3 and taken along the line 4-4 in said figure;

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of a special backpressure valve; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view of another special backpressure valve.

Referring to Fig. 1, my improved cloth-finishing machine comprises a large perforated winding drum or steaming cylinder H] on which a strip of cloth C is wound in interposed relation with an apron A supplied from a storage roll I 2. The drum II! has a large driving gear l4 engaged by a pinion l5 (Figs. 3 and 4) mounted on the rear end of the shaft I6 of a hydraulic rotary motor M.

The storage roll l2 has a pulley 20 connected by a belt or chain 2| to a driving pulley or sprocket 22 (Fig. 2) mounted on the shaft 23 of a sec-- 0nd and smaller hydraulic motor M2.

An air or vacuum pump P is driven by a motor M3 and exhausts steam and air from the cylinder l0 through an air valve V and connection 25 (Fig. 1).

Provision is also made for closing the air connection 25 and supplying steam through a valve V2 to the interior of the drum l0 when so desired.

The specific provisions for controlling the supply of steam to the drum H3 and for thereafter exhaustin the steam and air from the subject matter of an associated application and are not specifically claimed herein, the present application being more particularly concerned with the hydraulic drive of the drum It and the storage roll [2 and with the control thereof.

In Fig. 2 I have shown diagrammatically certain essential parts of my improved machine, together with hydraulic actuating and control mechanism therefor.

Referring to Fig. 2, an oil pump P2 supplies oil to a pipe line 30 under heavy pressure, which is limited by a relief valve V5. This pressure is delivered to a main distributing valve V6, to which branch lines 3|, 32, 33 and 34 are connected.

The branch line 3| supplies oil under pressure to an apron-alignment cylinder 40 under the control of a solenoid-operated three-way valve V7. The cylinder 40 is single-acting, with spring return.

The branch line 32 connects to a cylinder 44, also single-acting and spring-return, which cylinder is adapted to release a brake band 42 from a brake pulley 43 on the armature shaft I6 of the motor M whenever the motor M is winding the cloth and apron onto the drum It. A spring 44 applies the brake whenever the motor M is to be brought to a stop.

The branch line 33 supplies operating oil to drive the hydraulic motor M in the direction in which it turns the drum I0 clockwise in Fig. 2 to wind on the cloth and the associated apron. This oil is delivered through a special combination check and relief valve V8, which is shown in detail in Fig. 5 and which will be hereinafter described.

The branch line 34 is similarly connected through a special valve V9 to the hydraulic motor M2 and drives the same in the direction to wind the apron A on the storage roll l2. The details of construction of this valve V9 are shown in Fig. 6.

A relatively low-pressure distributing pipe line 40a. is connected into the line 31 and is maintained at a regulated low pressure by a relief valve VH3. A return line 4 la from the motor M is con-.

nected into the low-pressure line lea. When the motor M is driving the drum it it receives oil through the line 33 and the open check valve V3, and the line 4m to the low-pressure line 353a serves as the return. When the motor M acts as a pump or drag, it receives lower-pressure oil through the pipe Gila, and the return or exhaust pressure is regulated by the pressure-regulating part of the valve V8.

The motor M2 is similarly connected to the line 45a by a branch pipe d2a and provides frictional resistance for the storage roll I2 as the apron is being drawn therefrom. This frictional resistance also prevents the apron from forming folds or loops as it is wound on to the drum.

A branch pipe Mia connects the low-pressure line 40a through a reducing and regulating valve W2 and a solenoid-operated four-way valve Vid to the ipes 85 and at which connect into opposite ends of a pressure cylinder 57. This cylinder acts through its piston 8 to yieldingly apply a pressure roll R, to the outer surface of the apron as it is wound on the drum iii. By shifting the valve via, the roll R may be pressed against the apron or may be withdrawn therefrom, and by adjustin the valve VIZ, the roll may be applied at any desired pressure. The roll R is mounted on swinging arms so, pivoted at 5!.

A restricted or bleed pipe i9 connects the pipes 35 and 66 and prevents undue pressure being built up by leakage in the right-hand end of the cylinder 5-! during a prolonged winding operation. When the drum i3 is idle or stopped, the storage roll [2 remains under hydraulic back-pressure and maintains tension on the apron.

One of the swinging arms 59 which support the roll R. may be connected by a link bell crank 53 and link 5% to a lever 55 pivoted a 55 (Fig. 6) and underlying a pressure-regulatin lunger '5"! to be described.

A branch pipe 63 supplies oil through the threeway valve V3 to a cylinder M which opens the steam valve Vi. A branch pipe 62 connects the pipe through a restrictive device and through the valve V 3 and pipe st to the valve V3, and thence to the steam valve V2 when the valve V3 is closed to the branch pipe Sii. Pressure in the line is maintained at a predetermined and lower level by a regulating and relief valve Vi When this latter circuit is established, the valve V2 will be partially closed and a reduced flow of steam will be delivered from the steam pipe 65 to the pipe which leads to the main winding drum id.

The construction of the special check and relief valves is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

A pipe it (Fig. 5) connects the upper end of the valve V8 to the drum motor M, and the pipe 33 from the main valve V5 is connected into a port H at the side of the valve casing. A sleeve 72 is freely slidabl in an axial passage '53 in the valve casing, and upward travel of the sleeve is limited by abutment of an internal shoulder i i.

In its upper end, the sleeve l2 has a valve seat F5 for a ball loosely held from displacement by a cage or enclosing structure ii. A compression spring is is mounted in an axial recess in the sleeve l2, and at its lower end the spring i3 engages a plug "55 by which the spring tension can be adjusted. The sleeve l2 has open cross ports 88 which coinmiuiicate with the port in the valve seat '55.

With this construction, oil from the pressure pipe 33 lifts the ball l5 and continues to flow substantially freely to the hydraulic motor M.

When the motor is reversed, the check valve it closes and no reverse flow can take place until the shoulder on the upper end of the sleeve 12 has been depressed below the upper surface 82 of the annular recess 83. Reverse flow can then take place but at a substantial back-pressure, as determined by the compression of the spring 18. The exact amount of this reverse or back-pressure is determined by the setting of the plug 19.

The construction of the valve V9 shown in Fig. 6 is substantially similar to the construction of the valve V8, except that the screw plug 19 is replaced by a piston 8 to which the rod or plunger 57 is secured. The rod 51 is slidably mounted in a plug or hearing member 85 (Fig. 6).

The valve V 33 is designed to automatically reduce the back pressure on the storage roll motor M2 as the diameter of the mass of apron on the storage roll i2 is progressively decreased and as the leverage of the apron pull on th storage roll is correspondingly decreased.

For purpose of convenience, the indication of change in diameter is determined by the winding-on at the drum it} instead of by the unwinding at the storage roll 52, it being obvious that the drLun winding increases as the storage winding decreases.

As the winding on the drum it? increases in diameter, the roll R is swung outward, depressing the end of the lever 55 engaged by the plunger 5?. This allows the spring iii to slightly increase in over-all length and with corresponding decrease in strength and pressure. Consequently, the back pressure on the motor M2 will progressively decrease as the mass of apron remaining on the storage roll 12 decreases in diameter.

The construction of the friction brake on the motor M is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A friction band s2, previously mentioned, partially encircles a brake drum 43 mounted on the motor shaft It and having the sprocket i5 (Fig. 4) rigidly secured thereto as by screws 92. One end of the friction band 52 is firmly anchored at 93 to a fixed frame F and the other end is connected to a plunger 95 having a collar 96 threaded thereon. The compression spring id is interposed between the collar 96 and the outer end of a recess 98. A piston Hill is secured to the outer end of the plunger 95 and is slidable in the cylinder 4i (Fig. 2). It receives oil from the branch pipe 252 previously described.

When pressure is supplied in the cylinder M, the spring id is compressed and the brake-band 42 is loosened, but when pressure is removed from the cylinder ii, the piston I98 moves outward or to the left in Fig. 3 and the brake-band is applied.

Operation Having described the details of construction of my improved cloth finishing machine, the operation thereof will be readily understood.

Assuming that the main valve Vii is shifted to connect the oil supply pipe til to the drum motor M through the check valve V8, the motor M will be rotated to turn the drum It clockwise and to wind on the apron and the associated fabric.

As the apron is pulled off of the storage roll, it will drag the motor M2 backward, thus causing the motor to act as a pump and to deliver oil from the branch pipe 42a to the pipe 34 leading back to the main valve V5. This oil is delivered at a back pressure determined by the combination check and relief valve V9, and this back pressure is gradually decreased as the mass of cloth and apron on the drum I0 increases.

During the winding operation of the motor M, pressure is applied from the main valve V6 to the pipe 32 to release the friction band 42 from the drum 43. When the main valve is shifted. to neutral position, pressure in the cylinder M is released and the brake-band 42 is again applied. At the same time, the motor M2 remains under suflicient pressure to maintain tension on the apron between the storage roll and the winding drum.

While the motors M and M2 are at rest, the valves V3 and V4 may be manipulated to supply steam at successively higher and lower pressures to the interior of the drum [0.

The solenoid-operated four-way valve Vl4 maintains pressure at the right-hand end of the cylinder 41 during the winding operation, which is thus performed under continuous but yielding pressure. When the winding ceases, however, the four-way valve shifts to. apply pressure to the left-hand end of the cylinder 41, thus withdrawing the roll R during the steaming operation.

I have thus provided a finishing machine in which all of the necessary operations may be very conveniently and efiectively carried out under manual or in part automatic control, and in which the hydraulic driving motors coact reversely, so that the idle motor in each case acts as a drag to tension the apron against the pull of the active motor.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims but what I claim is:

1. In a cloth finishing machine, a steaming cylinder, a hydraulic motor to drive said cylinder, a storage roll, a hydraulic motor to drive said storage roll, an apron wound on and drawn between said cylinder and roll, each motor being rotated backward against hydraulic back pressure by said apron as the apron is wound up by the other motor, and means to progressively decrease the hydraulic back pressure on the storage roll as the mass of apron wound thereon decreases in diameter.

2. In a cloth finishing machine, a steaming cylinder, a hydraulic motor to drive said cylinder, a storage roll, a hydraulic motor to drive said storage roll, an apron wound on and drawn between said cylinder and roll, each motor being rotated backward against hydraulic back pressure by said apron as the apron is wound up by the other motor, and means to apply a friction brake to the backwardly-rotating motor as the apron is unwound from the associated cylinder or roll.

3. In a cloth finishing machine, a steaming cylinder, a hydraulic motor to drive said cylinder, a storage roll, a hydraulic motor to drive said storage roll, an apron wound on and drawn between said cylinder and roll, each motor being rotated backward against hydraulic back pressure by said apron as the apron is wound up by the other motor, and means to apply a friction brake to the backwardly-rotating motor as the apron is unwound from the associated cylinder or roll and to release said brake as the apron is wound on said associated roll or cylinder.

4. In a cloth finishing machine, a steaming cylinder, a hydraulic Winding motor therefor, a high pressure line connected to said motor, a low pressure line connected to said motor, and a combination check and relief valve in said high pressure line, said check valve portion of said valve opening freely toward said motor and said relief valve portion of said valve opening in the opposite direction against predetermined back pressure.

5. In a cloth finishing machine, a steaming cylinder, a hydraulic winding motor therefor, a high pressure line connected to said motor, a low pressure line connected to said motor, a combination check and relief valve in said high pressure line, said check valve portion of said valve opening freely toward said motor and said relief valve portion of said valve opening in the opposite direction against predetermined back pressure, and automatic means to vary the back pressure at which said relief valve opens and in fixed relation to the amount of material wound on said cylinder.

6. In a cloth finishing machine, a steaming cylinder, a hydraulic winding motor therefor, a high pressure line connected to said motor, a low pressure line connected to said motor, a combination check and relief valve in said high pressure line, said check valve portion of said valve opening freely toward said motor and said relief valve portion of said valve opening in the opposite direction against predetermined back pressure, a pressure roll engaging the outer layer of material wound on said cylinder, and connections from said pressure roll to said check and relief valve through which the back pressure is reduced as the pressure roll is moved outward by the mass of material wound on said cylinder.

7. The combination in a cloth finishing machine as set forth in claim 6, in which a hydraulic cylinder and piston operate said pressure roll, and in which a restricted connection is provided between the opposite ends of the cylinder to prevent build-up of excessive pressure by leakage.

THEODORE A. DOURDEVILLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,139,513 Gessner May 18,1915 1,848,663 Robinson Mar. 8, 1932 1,937,077 West Nov. 28, 1933 1,978,722 Remington Oct. 30, 1934 2,190,529 Bretschneider Feb. 13, 1940 2,328,055 Clough Aug. 31, 1943 

